Day 1 Adventures in Anchorage
Explore Alaska's biggest city
Your Alaskan adventure starts with an overnight stay in Anchorage, a city with plenty of restaurants, galleries and shops. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center give you a taste of local culture. If you prefer the open air, why not visit the flowering Town Square Park, or go salmon fishing in Ship Creek.
To get the most out of your stay, we recommend joining our optional Pre-Programme to the incredible Denali National Park, home to North America’s highest peak and a huge range of Alaskan wildlife.
Day 2 A first taste of awesome Alaskan
Enjoy a drive through spectacular scenery
After breakfast you’ll enjoy a scenic drive to Seward. Our route goes through the Kenai Peninsula, considered by Alaskans and visitors alike to be some of the world’s most awe-inspiring backcountry scenery. The transfer will take you through this stunning scenery as we wend our way to the Pacific coast where our expedition ship awaits.
Our embarkation point, Seward, is the only deep-water ice-free port with road, rail and air connections to Alaska’s interior. Once you board MS Roald Amundsen, locate your cabin and explore this spacious and comfortable expedition ship which will be your home for almost two weeks.
Day 3 Ivy League glaciers
Get ready to experience nature’s raw power
Today we visit College Fjord, which features five tidewater glaciers and five valley glaciers, as well as a dozen other types.
The 1899 Harriman expedition team, which charted the fjord, named the glaciers after their alma maters, including Vassar, Harvard and Yale. Princeton is missing, apparently a deliberate snub.
We’ll get as close to the glaciers as we safely can, taking our small expedition boats into the fjord or even exploring by kayak if conditions permit. From the water, you might catch sight of humpback whales, Bald Eagles, otters and sea lions, all of which inhabit this icy wilderness.
College Fjord Small Boat Glacier Cruising
Discover the immense glaciers of College Fjord on a thrilling small boat cruise.
Included
Day 4 Glaciers of Icy Bay
Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed waters
Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall – regularly calve into this bay. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.
Wildlife abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, offering unrivalled photography opportunities. Humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters and harbour seals lazing on floating chunks of ice are often seen in these waters.
Icy Bay - Icy Bay Small Boat Cruising
Discover Icy Bay’s glaciers and icebergs in explorer style as we cruise aboard our small expedition boats.
Included
Day 5 William Henry Bay
See ancient forests, wildlife and whales
In the morning we’ll pass by Point Adolphus, located on the northern tip of Chichagof Island across from Glacier Bay National Park. The nutrient-rich waters are known for attracting humpback whales and other marine life, so be sure to get out on deck and have your camera ready.
William Henry Bay lies south of Haines at the edge of the Chilkat Range mountains, and is home to brown bears, black bears and moose. Under the watchful eye of an expert local guide, we’ll drop anchor here and explore the shores lined with old-growth forest.
Day 6 Tlingit crafts in Haines
Discover an artistic heritage in the 'Valley of the Eagles'
Near the head of the Lynn Canal lies the frontier town of Haines, which was originally home to the Chilkat Tlingit people. They are renowned for their weaving skills, with mountain goat fur and cedar bark woven into intricate designs, and here, you’ll see excellent examples of their work.
Haines has a flourishing art scene, with galleries and workshops showcasing totem carvings, silverwork and sculptures. Taking home some Alaskan arts and crafts is a great way to support local creators. The beautiful landscapes here are also ideal for hiking and wildlife spotting.
Haines - Klukwan Native Culture
Learn about the Chilkat Łingít people at a Heritage Center, and see a world-renowned collection.
Not included
Fort Seward Town Package
Explore Fort William H. Seward and discover a variety of historical buildings, exhibits and artifacts.
Included
Haines - Glacial Fjord Bicycle Tour
Bike along the glacially carved Lutak Inlet, looking out for Bald Eagles, salmon and bears along the way.
Not included
Haines - Fjords of the Inside Passage Sea Kayaking
Head out onto the fjords in a two-person kayak, to paddle among the eagles and marine life.
Not included
Haines - Haines - Mt. Riley Hike
This excursion takes you to the highest point on the Haines Peninsula on a tough but rewarding hike.
Not included
Day 7 Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm
See the lesser-known gems of Holkham Bay
Holkham Bay is home to two beautiful fjords – Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Your Captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day.
At the end of each fjord, fresh icebergs calve from the glaciers against a stunning backdrop of rocky cliffs. This area is a breeding ground for harbour seals, who are often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears and mountain goats.
Tracy Arm Small Boat Cruising
Join us for a thrilling expedition boat adventure as we cruise through ice-strewn waters and witness epic intertidal glaciers.
Included
Day 8 Blended Cultures of Sitka
Take in Sitka’s views and unique mix of cultures
Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea or air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe volcano.
Inhabited by the Tlingit people for 10,000 years, the town was settled by Russian explorers around the turn of the 19th century before being sold to the United States after Russia lost the Crimean War. Today, Sitka has roots in all three cultures.
A visit to the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House is recommended. Admire ornate Haida and Tlingit totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park and enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.
Sitka - Tongass National Forest Hike
Let the beauty of southeast Alaska captivate you on a hike through the world’s largest temperate rainforest.
Not included
Sitka - Kelp Forest Snorkel Experience
Explore the vibrant underwater kelp forests of Alaska on a snorkel tour in Sitka Sound.
Not included
Sitka Cultural Discovery
Discover Sitka’s heritage on a narrated sightseeing journey to some of the city’s highlights.
Not included
Sitka - Kayak Adventure
See the beauty of Sitka Sound from the seat of a kayak, and paddle among an array of marine life.
Not included
Sitka - Alaska Expedition Vessel Adventure & Fin Island Lodge
From sea stars to Bald Eagles, you won’t have to look far to find wildlife on this cruise.
Not included
Sitka - Alaska Expedition Vessel Adventure & Fin Island Lodge
From sea stars to Bald Eagles, you won’t have to look far to find wildlife on this cruise.
Not included
Alaska Raptor Center
Visit the place where injured birds are nursed back to health so they can find their wings again.
Included
Wrangell - Marine Mammals - Sea Otters and Whales
See the remarkable variety of wildlife that calls the Tongass National Forest home.
Not included
Sitka - Homestead Visit in Silver Bay Fjord
Join a tranquil catamaran cruise through the fjord of Silver Bay and visit an authentic homestead in the Alaskan wilderness.
Not included
Day 9 The wonders of the southeast
Discover Southeast Alaska’s magical waterways
Explore Alaska in true expedition style on today’s exploration day in this magical corner of the Inside Passage.
Conditions permitting, we may take to the water in our small expedition boats, and seek out secluded coves, iceberg-filled bays, and thickly forested shorelines. Try and catch a glimpse of some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, including Bald Eagles, Pigeon Guillemots, otters, whales and even bears, if luck is on our side.
Chatham Strait Small Boat Cruising
Discover the soul-stirring fjords of southeast Alaska on this freestyle small boat cruising adventure.
Included
Island Heritage Discovery
Learn about the history of Wrangell and its first nation, the Łingít, and explore Petroglyph Beach.
Included
Day 10 Wrangell's Petroglyphs
Visit one of Alaska’s oldest harbour towns
We continue cruising the Alaskan islands towards Wrangell. Only a mile out of town, Petroglyph Beach is where you'll see ancient rock carvings among the sand.
Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Now part of the United States, it was once governed by Britain, Russia and the Tlingit people. Cross to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Tlingit people.
Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey at the edge of the rainforest.
Wrangell - Tongass Botanicals Nature Walk
Intriguing history and inspiring nature await on a walk through America’s largest temperate rainforest.
Not included
Wrangell- Stikine River Wilderness & Glacier Lake by Jetboat
Take an exhilarating jetboat ride down the Stikine River in the Tongass National Forest.
Not included
Wrangell - Rainbow Falls Hike
Join your guide on a hike through the lush Tongass National Forest to see an impressive waterfall.
Not included
Wrangell - Bears of Anan
Get front-row seats to Wrangell’s salmon run, and watch bears and eagles feast on the returning fish.
Not included
Wrangell - Marine Mammals - Sea Otters and Whales
See the remarkable variety of wildlife that calls the Tongass National Forest home.
Not included
Wrangell - Taste the Wild Jet Boat Experience
Discover vibrant marine life, sample fresh local seafood and delve into coastal ecosystems on a jet-boat adventure.
Not included
Day 11 Unspoiled Misty Fjords
Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrives
Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen.
Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in our small expedition boats, or take kayaks out.
Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You’ll scan for mountain goats, bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles.
Day 12 Canada's Inside Passage
See sublime scenery as we sail the Inside Passage
The Inside Passage coastal route takes us through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. Unlike other cruises which pass through at night, you’ll be able to view the sublime scenery in all its glory during the day.
Our smaller expedition ship allows us to reach areas that larger vessels can’t, meaning you’ll get to explore lesser-travelled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of dolphins, porpoises, orcas and humpback whales.
Day 13 Meet the Kwakwaka’wakw
Receive a warm welcome in Alert Bay
We arrive at Alert Bay, a scenic village on Cormorant Island, north of Vancouver Island. Here we'll have the opportunity to meet and learn from the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations community – to be welcomed by them is a real privilege.
At the U'mista Cultural Center, you'll see elaborate totem poles, paintings, carvings, ceremonial masks and other meaningful artifacts.
The island’s sheltered waters attract a huge array of wildlife – the Yellow-billed Loon, with its distinctive speckled back, is a particular highlight. Keep an eye out for orcas and humpback whales close to shore.
Alert-Bay Cultural Performance
Learn about the relationship between people and land in this traditional display by the Kwakwaka’wakw community.
Included
Day 14 A taste of Vancouver
Disembark in British Columbia’s iconic city
Your expedition cruise ends in Vancouver, a beautiful city at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for a citywide view overlooking neon-lit Granville Street, the West End beaches, and the towering cedars of Stanley Park.
Vancouver has a flavour all its own – and so does its global cuisine. Before your onward journey, we recommend you dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy for a taste of the city's buzzing atmosphere.